Chapter 16

A/N: Hey everyone, just wanted to say a quick thank you for 6k views on this story already!

To be honest, when I started writing this story I was only aiming for like 300-500 views so achieving twelfth times that feels odd and amazing at the same time.

Even if I don’t interact with you much outside of these small author’s notes every now and then, I truly am happy with what this little story has become and the support given by all of you.

Also just a small FYI that after I finish the first selection, it may take a bit for me to get started with the second selection as I’m still in the process of planning the second selection and the U-20 match.

Anyways, have fun with the chapter!

-Third Person POV-

“talking”

‘thoughts’

‘I wonder what you’ll look like when I crush your undefeated streak, beneath my feet, you geniuses.’

Gento was currently lying on his back and watching a video whilst Bachira was making an ‘interesting’ facial expressions towards Isagi, Igaguri and Gagamaru.

Isagi: “That face means ‘I wonder if we’ll win the next game!’… i think.”

Igaguri: “It’s ‘my stomach hurts!’ face!”

Gagamaru: “It means ‘Grandma are you well?! right?”

Bachira shakes his head and crosses his arms in front of his face

Bachira: “Bzzt! Incorrect! Hey Gento, what do you think?”

Tilting his head to the side, a deadpan expression on his face, Gento locks eyes with Bachira before speaking up.

Gento: “It’s a ‘I wonder what rain tastes like’ face.”

At his response Bachira gains a huge grin on his face and points at Gento before loudly exclaiming.

Bachira: “Correct Gen-chan!”

At this the others are fully flabbergasted and look at Gento stunned.

Isagi: “What?! How did you figure that out?”

Igaguri: “ARE YOU A MIND-READER GENTO?!”

Gento slowly turns his face between the shocked strikers and the grinning Bachira a couple of times before the two of them speak up at the same time.

Gento: “He told me beforehand.”

Bachira: “I told him!”

After a moment of silence Igaguri launches himself at Gento and starts shaking him by the shoulders whilst yelling.

Igaguri: “You cheater!”

Not being a fan of this, Gento decides that the correct answer would be violence and swiftly kicks Igaguri in the face, before scooting closer to Bachira and away from the monk currently bleeding from the nose.

Gento: ‘fuck off.’

Whilst this was going on, Isagi was questioning Bachira on how they were supposed to know what his expression meant, especially if it was so nonsensical. However before Bachira could start the second round of their impromptu game, Iemon abruptly cuts in.

Iemon: “Hey! What the hell are you guys doing?! The next game is the last one, right?! You’re supposed to be nervous!! Nervous, I say!”

With a grin on his face, Bachira whispers to Isagi and Gento.

Bachira: “Hmm… That face means ‘Oh boy, I’m so mad’!”

Isagi: “Hey now, Bachira…”

Iemon: “My face is not for guessing!!”

Gento: “Dude calm down, we already qualified for the next round…”

Before Iemon could respond to Gento’s relaxed statement Raichi, who was kneeling in front of Kuon, cuts in.

Raichi: “Now hold on a sec’. I haven’t forgiven this snake right here.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Raichi grabs Kuon in a choke hold.

Raichi: “WHAT?! ARE YOU GONNA SPILL THE BEANS ON OUR TACTICS AGAIN, HUH? IS THAT IT?!! We’ll each take turns beatin’ your ass before you do that!!”

Gento, ever the genius, chooses to film the altercation instead of intervening.

Gento: ‘Deserved.’

Igaguri: “I want in Raichi!”

Naruhaya: “Make room for us! We’re gonna teach him a lesson!!”

However before things could escalate further, Isagi intervenes by grabbing Raichi by the shoulder.

Isagi: “Hey… Enough! I know how you feel really! But what will we do if he gets injured?! We would have to play the next game with ten players as well, so keep that in mind!!”

Turning towards the new voice Raichi, whilst still choking Kuon who was slowly turning blue, responds.

Raichi: Huh?! Ya feelin’ bad for this guy or what?!”

Isagi: “What I’m saying is that we can’t win against Team V with only ten players!”

Gento: ‘You really think he’ll play for us?

Taking the chance, whilst Raichi was momentarily distracted, Kuon frees himself from the angry striker’s grasps.

Kuon: “Are you stupid? Why the hell would I play with you?!”

Raichi: “HUH?!”

Kuon: “At this point even if Team Z loses the next game, we qualify regardless! So why should I risk an injury, if the next game doesn’t fucking matter anyways!”

Gento: “Jesus, I didn’t realise you were that pathetic.”

At the younger’s voice, the rest of Team Z turns towards him.

Gento: “I mean, ‘even if Team Z loses, we qualify anyway’? What kind of mindset is that? Why even bother coming here if you’re satisfied with that low-tier garbage.”

Ego: “Nicely put Hirako.“

At the interruption of the new voice, Team Z’s turns to look at the monitor hanging near the back of Team Z’s room, spotting it turn on and showing none-other than Jinpachi ego,

Ego: “Hello there. It’s been a while. This is Jinpachi Ego speaking. Well then, let us start with the First Selection’s most recent rankings.”

265 – Gento Hirako

266 – Wataru Kuo

267 – Hyoma Chigiri

268 – Yoichi Isagi

269 – Rensuke Kunigami

270 – Gin Gagamaru

271 – Meguru Bachira

272 – Okuhito Iemon

273 – Jingo Raichi

274 – Asahi Naruhaya

275 – Gurimu Igarashi

Gento: “Would you look at that. Finally number one.”

Raichi: “WHAT THE FUCK?! Why the hell is that traitor so far up?!”

Ego: “At Blue Lock’s First Selection the only thing that matters is the amount of goals scored. So, apart from the stated rules, any other conventions are disregarded.

However, Wataru Kuon, Gento Hirako described you perfectly, last game but let me reiterate: As a striker you are the lowest, among the worst, the utmost bottom.

You are the filthies scum in all of this facility.”

Gento: “Way to state the obvious four-eyes.”

Ego: “Up until now, Team Z have been struggling, had it not been for Hirako all of you would be just at the verge of elimination. Otherwise your methods of attacking are actually worthless, all things said.

What the best striker in the world requires is the ‘Repeatability of a goal’.

It is true that the most dramatic goals are the ones that leave the longest-lasting impressions. There are a lot of players capable of such feats around the world. And yet why is it that they cannot pull such a goal once more? That is because it was nothing but the result of a mere fluke. So you can already imagine the worth of a goal that relies on cunning and deceit, among many other despicable traits.

What you need right now is the ‘Formula’ to produce and create as many goals as it takes.

Score a goal by any means necessary, use your physical state, your weapons and analyze the factors beyond it. ‘How many meters were there until I could score?’ ‘How many defenders were there?’ ‘Where did I get that pass?’ ‘What did I feel at that time?’

Understand every key component of your goal. When you do this, you will be able to repeat it. Positioning, Touching, Dribbling, Shooting.

Understand the formula that allows your best skills to thrive, and then make full use of it! A world-class striker is one who possesses their own unique formula to score goals!

Most of you are still surviving out of sheer luck! But that will get you nowhere, know that ‘repeatability’ is not a trait that comes after success, but is instead the very foundation behind it.

Matches are something where irregularities are abound, where adversaries stand in a second on that abrupt battlefield, those who devise their own ‘formula’ that is, the world’s best striker is who carves multiple paths with his sheer prowess.

Abolish the idea of winning by ‘chance’, and claim victory as a logical consequence.

The answer to your ‘formula’ lies in slumber on the field those who don’t seek it can fuck off.”

Until Last Game: 23:59:59

Raichi: “Anyways, Kuon. Don’t do shit in the next game, y’hear? Don’t help and don’t fuck us over. If I see you move, I’ll put you in a wheelchair.

Gento: ‘Ok that’s a bit over the top Raichi.’

Gento thought to himself, sweatdropping at the aggressive striker’s threat, before looking back up at the ceiling.

Gento: ‘I should be fine for the whole ‘repeatability’ thing. I’m the only one to score every game for us, so I probably don’t need to worry…’

Out of the corner of his eye, Gento sees Isagi rush out of the room and towards the training field.

Gento: ‘But do I wanna risk it? If they can actually spot me, then what?’

Shaking his head, Gento stretches his arms above his head before lying back down with an easy smile across his face.

Gento: ‘Nah, I’ll be fine.’

-End of Chapter 13 –